'It was always going to happen:' Anger as 24/7 rapid response unit called in to deal with Sheffield yellow bike vandals

Sheffield's yellow bike scheme has come in for fierce criticism after it was revealed that a round the clock rapid response team is being introduced to clamp down on vandal attacks.

Since the scheme was introduced in the city in January, dozens of the Ofo bikes have been smashed up, stolen or dumped in rivers and canals - with levels of vandalism in Sheffield 'far above' other UK cities where the scheme operates.

"This city where I was born and bred in and so proud of where I come from is now a paradise for thieves, drugs, car crime and burglary. The police have enough to deal with without having to waste there time sorting this pathetic system out."

Readers from across Sheffield have reported spotting vandalised bikes dumped in their area - with many having locks and tracking equipment smashed off so they can be used as personal transport.

The scheme also operates across London, Oxford, Cambridge, Norwich and Leeds - but since its January launch, dozens of bikes have been trashed in Sheffield with rates of destruction the worst in the UK.

Julie El Aallaoui said:"There's loads in Page Hall. They've even started trying to spray paint them now. Worst thing they did was bring them out!"